Flow control composite valve

Abstract

A compound meter assembly is provided having primary and secondary passageways housing a high flow rate meter and a low flow rate meter, respectively. A composite flow responsive first valve is disposed within the secondary passageway and moves to a substantially closed position when the liquid flow through said passageway is increasing and exceeds a first predetermined rate. Upon substantial closing of the first valve, a substantial momentary pressure impulse is created and the liquid flow is diverted from the secondary passageway to the primary passageway. A composite pressure responsive second valve is disposed within the primary passageway and includes a gate member movable between open and closed positions, and a weighted operating member movable independently of the gate member and adapted to close the latter by pivotal movement and to lock the latter in a closed position by a wedging action until the momentary pressure impulse is created and exerted on the gate member and the liquid flow is diverted from the secondary passageway to the primary passageway. The composite first valve includes a first element, which moves to reduce the flow restriction therethrough as the second valve closes, and a cooperative second element to effect the aforementioned substantial closing of the secondary passageway.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flow control assembly including a composite valve responsive to liquid flow and to gravity, said composite valve comprising: a valve seat circumscribing an outlet passage and oriented to face downstream; a closure member mounted within said assembly on the downstream side of said seat and movable towards and away from said seat for engagement therewith to close and open said outlet passage in response to pressure differentials across said closure member; stationary means mounted within said assembly downstream from said closure member; a weighted member disposed within said assembly downstream from said closure member, said weighted member being separate from said stationary means and said closure member; and means mounting said weighted member for movement by gravity against said closure member to urge said closure member toward said seat against liquid flow through said outlet passage, said mounting means permitting generally downward wedging movement of said weighted member by gravity into wedging engagement between said closure member and said stationary means as said closure member engages said seat to hold said closure member against said seat by such wedging engagement. 
     
     
       2. The flow control assembly of claim 1 wherein said closure member is hingedly mounted above said valve seat for such movement relative to said valve seat. 
     
     
       3. The flow control assembly of claim 2 wherein said weighted member is substantially pivotally supported when disengaged from said stationary member. 
     
     
       4. The flow control assembly of claim 1 wherein said weighted member is disengaged from said stationary member when said closure member is disengaged from said valve seat, and wherein said "mounting" means provides pivotal support for said weighted member when the latter is disengaged from said stationary member. 
     
     
       5. The flow control assembly of claim 4 wherein said "mounting" means provides such pivotal support of said weighted member above said outlet passage and permits generally vertical sliding movement of said weighted member when the latter is engaging said stationary member and said closure member in the valve closing position. 
     
     
       6. The flow control assembly of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 including means for rolling engagement between said weighted member and said closure member. 
     
     
       7. The flow control assembly of claim 1 including means for supporting said weighted member when said closure member is disengaged from said valve seat. 
     
     
       8. A composite valve responsive to fluid flow and to gravity comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet; a valve seat circumscribing a fluid flow passage within said housing between said inlet and said outlet and facing downstream; a closure member pivotally mounted above said valve seat for movement into and out of engaagement therewith in response to pressure differentials across said closure member; stationary means mounted downstream from said closure member; a weighted member mounted downstream from said valve seat, said weighted member being separate from said stationary means and said closure member; and means supporting said weighted member for movement by gravity against said closure member to urge said closure member toward said seat against fluid flow through said outlet passage during a portion of its movement and permitting said weighted member to undergo free vertical motion by gravity into wedging engagement between said stationary means and said closure member as said closure member engages said seat to hold said closure member against said seat by such wedging engagement. 
     
     
       9. The composite valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said means for supporting said weighted member includes a first generally U-shaped bracket with first and second upstanding legs, said first leg having a beveled edge and being upstream from said second leg, said weighted member including a support element engaged between said legs for vertical movement therebetween and lateral movement on said beveled edge for permitting vertical and rotational movement of said weighted member. 
     
     
       10. The composite valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said weighted member includes means for rolling engagement with said closure means. 
     
     
       11. The composite valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said stationary means includes at least one cam surface facing upstream for engagement by said weighted member during such wedging engagement thereof between said stationary means and said closure member. 
     
     
       12. The composite valve assembly of claim 8, 9, 10 or 11 wherein said weighted member includes means for rolling engagement with said stationary means and means for rolling engagement with said means for supporting said weighted member. 
     
     
       13. The composite valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said means for supporting said weighted member includes a pair of generally U-shaped brackets with first and second upstanding legs, said first leg having a beveled edge and being upstream from said second leg, said weighted member including a support element engaged between said legs for vertical movement therebetween and lateral movement over said beveled edge for permitting vertical and rotational movement of said weighted member.